Focal Landscapes

The Northern Appalachians support unfragmented, high-integrity contiguous forest, but relatively few species of turtles. However, central New England and New York comprise the global richness hotspot for the turtle subfamily Emydinae, with five species present.

Functional landscapes are probably the most important element of a proactive, evolutionarily consequential, conservation strategy for North American freshwater turtles. The question is, how to identify these landscapes in a scientifically rigorous way, and how to protect them from further degradation?

We've developed a hierarchical approach to prioritize landscape protection, policy review, and long-term research. Broadly, we engage in conservation science within a network of overlapping landscapes designed to capture the majority of at-risk freshwater turtle species and lineages:

(1) Northeastern USA
(2) Landscapes of High Species Richness
(3) Occurrences of Range-Restricted Lineages
(4) Conservation Area Networks developed for widespread species of conservation concern.

Chelydridae

Geoemydidae

Dermatemydidae

Kinosternidae

Deirochelyinae

Testudinidae

Emydinae

Trionychidae

Species Richness hotspots

To develop a network of Focal Landscapes based on species richness (the number of species present in a given ecoregion), we built range maps for 137 terminal taxa (species, subspecies, and evolutionarily significant lineages) using published range maps, available museum data, and published occurrence data. The most species-rich ecoregion (Southern Coastal Plain) was selected as a Focal Landscape, and then subsequent Focal Landscapes were identified based on their contribution to the overall turtle fauna covered. Four Focal Landscapes for Species Richness were identified, which, together with the Northeast USA Focal Landscape, support 74 terminal taxa or 54% of North American turtles. Seven additional ecoregions were identified as secondary priorities for the conservation of freshwater turtle diversity (see below).

Northeast USA Focal Landscape

The 13 States of the Northeastern USA coordinate conservation for amphibians and reptiles through the NE Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC). Coordination within NEPARC has led to regional status assessments and conservation plans for widespread species of conservation concern. Most of the northeastern state wildlife agencies have very active conservation programs in place for freshwater turtles, and this area is a focal area for ATO, though it supports only about 10% of the continental turtle fauna.

Focal Landscapes for LINEAGE Richness

Southern Coastal Plain Hotspot

The Southern Coastal Plain, including the the Suwannee, Apalachicola, Escambia, and Pearl Rivers in FL, GA, AL, MS, and LA, supports ~46 turtle taxa—31% of the continental fauna—including the highest species richness of mud turtles, river turtles, snapping turtles, and softshells.

Chihuahuan Desert
Hotspot

The Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion in Texas, Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Durango (including Big Bend NP, Bolsón de Mapimi, Río Santa Maria, and Cuatro Ciénegas), supports 15 turtle taxa, 11% of the continental fauna. This region supports the endemic Bolsón tortoise and Coahuilan box turtle.

Sonoran-Madrean
Hotspot

The Sonoran Desert and northern Sierra Madre Occidental, including the Madrean Sky Islands of Sonora, AZ, and NM support 15 turtle taxa—11% of the continental fauna. This focal region supports desert tortoise, Yaqui slider, spotted box turtle, desert box turtle, and Sonora mud turtle.

YucatAn-Gulf Coast
Hotspot

The Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, and Gulf regions of Tabasco and Chiapas support 14 turtle taxa—10% of the continental turtle fauna. This focal region supports the Central American river turtle, furrowed wood turtle, Yucatán box turtle, Creaser's mud turtle, and other species from 8 major lineages of freshwater turtle.

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